Power Hunger
Becoming a superpower is one of the most intriguing dream of any person or country. When we talk about person we talk talk about domination of one person over the others, but when we talk about the country we are talking about the world domination. When a country think to dominate the world, it has to prove itself not just in one field, but in many. This process is not simple and easy as it sounds. Even though becoming the dominating power, being an authoritative and influential power to other countries of the world is not new, and its roots have deep embedded in our history.
As we all know that today the world is a multi-polar world, means there are multiple emerging powers in different regions of the world, but one power above all is United States of America. But the situation has never been the same, there were times when other countries in the world has dominated the rest. It is an evolving process in which every country has got the chance if it fulfill the expectations/criteria for it.
During the earliest time of human history the Indus Valley Civilization (3300 - 1700 BC), which is considered as a part of India, is the center of Commerce and Trade. This civilization is the most flourished civilization of that time. I'm not saying that it has ruled the world, but it has definitely influenced the other civilization which were in their contacts like Mesopotamia etc. Creating an influence on other's life style and way of living is also another form of domination.
Later, during 1st, 2nd, 3rd Century AD, the concept of Kingdom arose, which is ruled by a King, who with the help of their soldiers try to acquire new territories and expand their kingdom. It is to dominate the people of the acquired region (we need to keep in mind that during this time the concept of one Nation has not yet been conceptualized and Kings fight only to expand their territory to rule and gather more food). These Kingdoms has their own set of rules and regulations, own administrative system, public delivering mechanism etc. to cater the people under them. These kingdoms were generally run by the member of same family.
Slowly-slowly consensus arose among the people that the member of one family can't run the entire system/kingdom and representation of general public should be there in the system. The concept of one nation is now carving out on a white plane sheet, and people gathered to respect it. The signing of Magna Carta in 1215, which was Peace Treaty between an unpopular king and group of rebels, laid the first step towards parliamentary democracy and the principle supremacy of law i.e. no one is above law. It also laid the principle of balance of power between the governed and government.
During the 14th-15th-16th-17th-18th century, the British and the other European nation expanded themselves, as a nation, in all direction of the world to show their power and desire to rule the world. By the end of 18th century, Great Britain, France were the major expanding colonial powers of the world (while, lot of power shifting was going on within Europe).
But the time doesn't remain same, in the 20th century world saw two major wars (World War -I, 1914-1919 and World War -II, 1939-1945) which completely shifted the power equation. By the end of WW-II United States of America and USSR emerged as two major powers, ending the power of Great Britain. The world was divided into two major blocks lead by USA and USSR. These two tried to influence the other countries to join them. But the collapse of USSR in 1991 made the word uni-polar from bi-polar with USA as the most powerful of them all.
Now, the China and India are desperately trying to influence the Asian countries by diplomatic relations, economic and trade relations to emerge as powerful in the region. Time will tell what will be the new power equation of the World in the future, till then we have to wait.
As we all know that today the world is a multi-polar world, means there are multiple emerging powers in different regions of the world, but one power above all is United States of America. But the situation has never been the same, there were times when other countries in the world has dominated the rest. It is an evolving process in which every country has got the chance if it fulfill the expectations/criteria for it.
During the earliest time of human history the Indus Valley Civilization (3300 - 1700 BC), which is considered as a part of India, is the center of Commerce and Trade. This civilization is the most flourished civilization of that time. I'm not saying that it has ruled the world, but it has definitely influenced the other civilization which were in their contacts like Mesopotamia etc. Creating an influence on other's life style and way of living is also another form of domination.
Later, during 1st, 2nd, 3rd Century AD, the concept of Kingdom arose, which is ruled by a King, who with the help of their soldiers try to acquire new territories and expand their kingdom. It is to dominate the people of the acquired region (we need to keep in mind that during this time the concept of one Nation has not yet been conceptualized and Kings fight only to expand their territory to rule and gather more food). These Kingdoms has their own set of rules and regulations, own administrative system, public delivering mechanism etc. to cater the people under them. These kingdoms were generally run by the member of same family.
Slowly-slowly consensus arose among the people that the member of one family can't run the entire system/kingdom and representation of general public should be there in the system. The concept of one nation is now carving out on a white plane sheet, and people gathered to respect it. The signing of Magna Carta in 1215, which was Peace Treaty between an unpopular king and group of rebels, laid the first step towards parliamentary democracy and the principle supremacy of law i.e. no one is above law. It also laid the principle of balance of power between the governed and government.
During the 14th-15th-16th-17th-18th century, the British and the other European nation expanded themselves, as a nation, in all direction of the world to show their power and desire to rule the world. By the end of 18th century, Great Britain, France were the major expanding colonial powers of the world (while, lot of power shifting was going on within Europe).
But the time doesn't remain same, in the 20th century world saw two major wars (World War -I, 1914-1919 and World War -II, 1939-1945) which completely shifted the power equation. By the end of WW-II United States of America and USSR emerged as two major powers, ending the power of Great Britain. The world was divided into two major blocks lead by USA and USSR. These two tried to influence the other countries to join them. But the collapse of USSR in 1991 made the word uni-polar from bi-polar with USA as the most powerful of them all.
Now, the China and India are desperately trying to influence the Asian countries by diplomatic relations, economic and trade relations to emerge as powerful in the region. Time will tell what will be the new power equation of the World in the future, till then we have to wait.
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